58 THE HUNTERS ARCADIA. 



moment I had not noticed. To whistle for the dog 

 was the action of a moment, but before she had 

 time to arrive I had a second fall, and in coming 

 down nearly drew the black fellow on the top of 

 me, which I only failed in doing by being not quite 

 adroit enough in my attempt. You will perceive 

 that I was not the least selfish, no, not I, thus I did 

 not wish to monopolise all the duckings to myself. 

 Donna, however, soon settled the matter, and brought 

 the cause of all our discomfiture to hand. 



This bird and its mate appeared identical with 

 those we are familiar with in the British Islands, and 

 as they were both young and fat, a sine qtid non in 

 this species for table use, they were found most 

 palatable when served. 



On joining my companion he informed me that 

 he had seen a bird of " enormous proportions " a short 

 distance off on the upland, and that it had taken 

 wing into a grove of mimosa adjoining, where he 

 believed it to be at the present. On cross-questioning 

 him about this extraordinary creature, the answers I 

 received were so vague that I felt quite puzzled as 

 to what it could be. \Vas it a pauw ? " No, it was too 

 dark and too short in the leg for that bird." Was it 

 a kooran ? " No, it was three times the size of it." 



